AIREAL by Disney

Disney Research has brought its project AIREAL to SIGGRAPH 2013. Interaction with computers has already expanded into the physical world. Gesture-tracking technologies have enabled users to interact with their computers by gesturing with their bodies.

One thing lacking in this developing technology is the absence of physical feedback. AIREAL is meant to deliver interactive tactile experiences in mid air by using compressed air pressure fields that stimulate the user’s skin. AIREAL enables users to feel virtual objects, experience dynamically varying textures and receive feedback on full body gestures.

What AIREAL is meant to do is to allow the user to actually feel the virtual object that they’re supposed to be touching. Imagine playing a game, where someone brushes by you and feeling how they bump into your shoulder.